FC Halifax Town V TUFC Match Preview by Steve Harris

Steve Harris – @steveharris84

Match details:FC Halifax Town versus Torquay United

Venue:The Shay, Halifax, HX1 2YS

Date:Saturday 2nd November 2019

Kick-off:3pm

National League form (last six):

FC Halifax Town: W, W, D, L, L, W

Torquay United: W, W, W, L, W, W

Last time the two teams met:

Saturday 6th April 2018 – Torquay United 1 FC Halifax Town 0

Jamie Reid’s sixth goal of the 2017-18 season early in the second half proved to be the difference for the Gulls – in what turned out to be United’s final win of the campaign as relegation to National League South soon followed.

Manager: Peter Wild

Former Oldham Athletic manager Peter Wild took charge of the Shaymen during the close season, following the resignation of Jamie Fullarton three weeks before the National League campaign got underway. Under his guidance, Halifax have defied pre-season expectation and have emerged as one of the surprise packages of the 2019-20 National League campaign, and they are currently third in the table.

One to watch: Liam McAlinden

Liam McAlinden will be no stranger to Torquay United manager Gary Johnson having previously played under him at Cheltenham Town. McAlinden, who started his career with Wolves, has represented both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland at Under-21 level and also had a spell in Devon with Exeter City between 2016 and 2018. He is currently the Shaymen’s leading scorer with seven goals.

FA CUP V HARROGATE

Photo courtesy of the Halifax Courier

Classic encounter:

21st March 1987 – Halifax Town 2 Torquay United 4

Paul Dobson’s late equaliser on the final day of the season against Crewe Alexandra in the extra time added on following Bryn the Police Dog’s bite on Jim McNichol, has been enshrined in Torquay United folklore. However, another goal scoring feat of Dobson’s from the 1986-87 season often gets overlooked, as he netted four times for the Gulls as they came away from the Shay with a 4-2 win that further boosted United’s survival prospects and proved to be important come the end of the season.